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Hi. Higgs here. Today, let’s discuss the way science is giving you humans new insights into the natural goodness of your fellow animals. I find it quite ironic that despite being clearly classified as animals yourselves, humans use the term animal in a pejorative way, usually implying someone is violent, hurtful, or amoral—as if it’s a bad thing to be part of the animal kingdom.

Perhaps to avoid confusion we should refer to non-human animals as beasts, though that term has its own negative connotations. Until recently, science played a role in defining beasts like me as devoid of genuine feelings or capacity for caring or kindness. Anyone who suggested otherwise was accused of committing a crime against science known as “anthropomorphism.”

A few brave humans rebelled against this prohibition. In his book Desert Solitaire, Edward Abbey wrote of his experience communing with nature: “How can I descend to such anthropomorphism? […] I am not attributing human motives to my snake and bird acquaintances… I suggest, however, that it’s a foolish, simple-minded rationalism which denies any form of emotion to all animals but man and his dog.”

To me, the old “scientific” notion of beasts as emotionless, robot-like beings is an extraordinary claim requiring extraordinary evidence. A closer look is revealing evidence to the contrary, and as a consequence, respected scientists are starting to come around and see things much the way Edward Abbey did. In his latest book, The Bonobo and the Atheist, for example, primate expert Frans de Waal makes the case that non-human beasts like me can be inherently good, caring, and even, in our way, moral.

My human assistant had a chance to chat with Dr. de Waal not long ago when he came through Philadelphia on a lecture circuit. Dr. de Waal has collected many anecdotal accounts of animal kindness and virtue. He told a story about a chimp named Daisy, who lovingly tended to a sick chimp friend named Amos, even trying to stuff soft bedding material behind his back.

He also told of monkeys showing kindness and understanding toward an individual monkey named Azalea, who had a chromosomal defect similar to Down Syndrome. Azalea had difficulty acting according to proper monkey protocol. She made various errors such as threatening the alpha male, Dr. de Waal said, but the other monkeys cared for her and helped her out.

Dr. de Waal also described a number of scientific studies, including one that will go far to rehabilitate the image of rats. Scientists at the University of Chicago enclosed some rats in small, confining enclosures—like transparent rat-sized coffins. The tiny prisons could only be opened from outside. The scientists discovered that free rats would go out of their way to release their trapped comrades.

The rats even did this when tempted by chocolate chips—apparently a favorite food of both rats and human beings. The free rats would resist these treats until after they released the trapped rats. Then both would share the reward. So rats turn out to be really nice animals.

Of course, animals are capable of doing unkind things too. Some people have judged outdoor cats harshly for eating birds, but I think this is somewhat unfair. We evolved as predatory animals. Our consumption of birds is an ecological problem, and you humans are better equipped to deal with it than we cats are.

In the end we are left with numerous lines of scientific and anecdotal evidence that non-human animals can act with kindness. We have feelings. We can be good.

The old view that we lacked emotion was an assumption. Assumptions can be helpful, to be sure, but an important part of scientific thinking is recognizing when you’re making one and being willing to question it. I’m glad you humans are starting to think in new ways.

Thank you for letting me express my opinion. May I please have a treat now? — Higgs

Higgs is a cat and an armchair scientist, who is fascinated by astronomy, physics, evolution, and human behavior. He also enjoys scratching the arms of the couch. You can keep up with him on Twitter here. His caretaker and agent, Faye Flam, has written about science for The Economist, The Washington Post, Science, and more; read more of her writing here.